Mascenic High cafeteria director charged with inappropriate contact with minor

NEW IPSWICH — The cafeteria director at Mascenic Regional High School in New Ipswich has been arrested and charged with sending inappropriate messages to a minor, according to New Ipswich Police.

William Geffe, 40, of Hollis, an employee of Café Services of Londonderry, worked in the Mascenic cafeteria and had on occasion announced starting line-ups for Mascenic home sports games. Geffe has been arrested on a warrant, charging him with two counts of Certain Uses of Computer Services Prohibited.

According to complaints filed at the 8th Circuit Court, Jaffrey, Geffe allegedly knowingly used an online service to attempt to seduce a person he believed to be a child. Both complaints allege that through an email conversation, Geffe attempted to solicit a 15-year-old girl for the purpose off engaging in sexual conduct. According to the complaints, the first email exchange happened on Nov. 24 and the second on Nov. 28. An initial report was made to New Ipswich police, and a subsequent investigation determined that Geffe continued to contact the minor through Facebook and Gmail. The investigation included help from members of the N.H. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes Peterborough and Hampton police.

The alleged victim, a student, reported the communications from Geffe to a teacher and the Mascenic School District contacted police, according to published reports.

Geffe was arrested on Nov. 30 with assistance from Hollis Police and transported to the Valley Street Jail in Manchester in lieu of $10,000 cash bail. Several electronic devices were seized from the residence he was staying at in Hollis, according to a press release issued by New Ipswich police on Friday.

Geffe was held in lieu of cash bail and was arraigned Dec. 2 in the 8th Circuit Court in Jaffrey. His bail was adjusted at that time to $6,000 cash or corporate surety bond and $4,000 cash only. His bail conditions include having no contact with the juvenile he allegedly solicited, or her family, and that he not enter the Town of New Ipswich. He is also not allowed to use a computer for any purpose or have unsupervised contact with anyone under 18 years of age.

On Dec. 10, Geffe waived his probable cause hearing and the case is being forwarded to the Hillsborough County Superior Court.

In an interview Monday, Cafe Services Human Resources Director Jaime Matheson said Geffe is on unpaid suspension pending the outcome of this case. Cafe Services conducts both background and reference checks on its employees, and Geffe cleared all screenings at the time of his hiring, said Matheson.

According to police, the investigation is isolated to one incident at this time. The New Ipswich Police Department urges anyone that believes they were inappropriately contacted by Geffe to call the New Ipswich Police Department.

When reached, Mascenic High School Interim Principal Bill Mealey declined to comment on the issue.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ex. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaari.